Frank Jones

As printed in 1905

FRANK VALLANDINGHAM JONES.

Frank Vallandingham Jones, the well-known superintendent of the Butler county infirmary, is a native of Union township, this county, and was born on the 3° j October, 1862. His father, Frank Jones, was an old resident and served in numerous official capacities in township and county. He was born in 1838, at Madisonville, Hamilton county. Ohio, and after his mar-

1 riage with Miss Nancy Vinnedge, in Union township, established a home in the same township, Butler county, where he was sucj cessfully engaged in farming for many years. But his later life was devoted to clerical pursuits, in which he proved himself highly efficient and thoroughly competent, lie was a member of the board of education in Hamilton for twelve years and was secretary of that body for nine years. He served twelve years as deputy clerk of courts of the county under different principals, and was local correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer for many years, achieving in that capacity quite a record as a terse and accurate writer. Mr. Jones was reasonably successful in the accumulation of property and was a man highly esteemed in the community. His death occurred May 7, 1896, and his wife survived him until April 24. 1904. Both were devout Christians and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mrs. Jones was a representative of one of the early and prominent families in Butler county. She was a daughter of the late George Vinnedge, who was born in Fairfield township, November 30, 1809. His father, John Vinnedge, came to Ohi6 with General Wayne’s army in 1794. He was one of Butler county’s soldier representatives in the war of 1812, and died at the home of his son George, in August, 1868, in his ninety-fifth year. He and his wife, who was Miss Rosanna Moore, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were of German lineage. Being among the very earliest settlers of the territory now embraced within Butler county, the Vinnedge family has been thoroughly identified with the county’s history. The humble cabin of John and Rosanna Vinnedge in the early days was a house of worship and the home of ministers and traveling brethren. John Vinnedge was the township squire and a man of high social standing in the county. He was a son of Adam Vinnedge, a native of Germany, who first established a home among the pioneers of Pennsylvania, but in old ageremoved to the Buckeye state and died in this county.

The Moore family, previously mentioned in this connection, was established in Pennsylvania by Patrick Moore, a native of Ireland. He came to Ohio with his daughter Rosanna, in 1779. He settled on a farm in this county, and dispensed a liberal hospitality, being a true son of the Emerald Isle, jovial, of happy disposition, and notably kind and generous to those in distress. He was a man of considerable means and was content with a general superintendence of his business affairs, without engaging in the labors of the field and forest. These are the ancestors of Frank Jones on the material side, the paternal ancestry being somewhat obscure. They were of Welsh extraction and early settlers of southern Ohio. Frank Jones is the eldest of three children, the others being Ella and George. The former is a highly accomplished and successful teacher in the Hamilton city schools, where she has been employed for a number of years. George is a skilled mechanic, profitably employed at the Columbia Carriage works, in Hamilton. He married Miss Iva Yingling, and their living children are Isabel and an infant.

Frank Jones received his education in the public schools of Hamilton. He began his independent career as a farmer and followed that business for several years, and then was engaged in the hotel and grain business at Port Union for eight or nine years. Mr. Jones was president of the school board in the special district of Port Union for nine years. He was twice chosen as the representative of Union township on the Democratic county central committee, and has always been prominent in local politics.

In September, 1901, the board of county infirmary directors elected him as superintendent of the Butler county infirmary, a position to which he has been unanimously re-elected each year since. The county farm embraces one hundred and ninety-six acres, adjoining the city plat of Hamilton on the east. The buildings, stock and appurtenances represent a value of many thousands of dollars, which, in connection with the operation of the farm and the caring for the inmates, are under the direct supervision of Mr. Jones. At the present time (July, 1904) there are one hundred and sixty wards of the county being cared for. in this beneficent institution, fifteen of them being classed as ‘‘harmlessly insane.” All are supplied with an abundance of wholesome food, properly clothed and sheltered, while the sick have the personal care of competent physicians and nurses. At the infirmary sanitary conditions are perfect. The beds, clothing, floors and dining rooms are kept scrupulously clean by a corps of competent housekeepers, this department being under the direct supervision of Mrs. Jones, as the matron. She is fully alert to the duties of her office and manager the internal affairs of the great institution with a masterful hand. Mrs. Jones, who was married to Frank V. Jones on October 12, 1887, was in maidenhood Miss Henrietta M. Ratz, a native of Port Union, Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of Frank and Margaret (Berlein) Ratz, natives of Germany. Both parents are now living at Port Union. Her father is a retired grain merchant and hotel proprietor, in which business he accumulated a handsome fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have an interesting family of two sons and one daughter, the eldest of whom is Carl V. He was born on the 26th of February, 1889, and is now a student in the Hamilton high school. Paul J. Sorg was born March 30, 1896. He is a namesake of the late Hon. P. J. Sorg, of Middletowm. Marguerite was born July 18, 1900.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones are members of St. John’s Evangelical church and spent almost their entire lives under the teachings of their late pastor, the lamented Rev. C. A. Hermann, D. D. Mr. Jones is a prominent member of various social orders, both local and general. He was a charter member of Hamilton Aerie, No. 407. Fraternal Order of Eagles, and is a trustee of the lodge. He is also prominently affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men, and “Monkey Mutual Aid Society,” and the “Ground Hogs.”

As printed in Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.